Beverage Machine Module Isolation for Pump Vibration Damping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Beverage preparation machines experience significant noise and discomfort due to vibrations from components like pumps, which are difficult to mitigate due to varying natural frequencies and operational conditions, such as different power supplies and variable masses from cups or ingredient reservoirs.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating dampening members with lower rigidity than the module interfaces, made of materials like silicone or rubber, to absorb and deform vibrations, preventing their transmission to auxiliary devices, and using magnetic or ferromagnetic elements for secure assembly while allowing motion, thereby reducing noise and vibration propagation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If dampening arrangements are used to reduce vibrations from pumps, then vibration noise is reduced, but the complexity of the machine structure increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration noiseVSAvoidmachine structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dampening members as intermediary elements between the pump and the machine housing. These members act as a mediator that absorbs and dissipates vibration energy, preventing direct transmission of mechanical shocks to the housing and other components, thereby reducing vibration noise without requiring fundamental changes to the pump design or overall machine structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The dampening members are pre-installed in the machine structure to provide cushioning protection before vibrations occur. By positioning these vibration-absorbing elements in advance at critical locations near the pump, the system is prepared to mitigate vibration impacts immediately when the pump operates, preventing vibration noise before it propagates through the machine.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the machine structure is adjusted to change natural frequencies, then vibration resonance is reduced, but the adaptability to different operating conditions deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration resonanceVSAvoidadaptability to different power supplies and masses
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs dampening members with specific material properties (viscoelastic materials) that can dissipate vibration energy across a broad frequency range. Rather than adjusting the machine's natural frequencies to avoid resonance, the dampening members change the damping parameters of the system, allowing effective vibration reduction regardless of the specific operating frequency determined by power supply variations or changing masses.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Effectively reduces noise and vibration transmission from the beverage preparation module to auxiliary devices, enhancing user experience by minimizing mechanical shocks and maintaining stability during beverage dispensing.

Implementation Method 1

Incorporating dampening members with lower rigidity than the module interfaces, made of materials like silicone or rubber, to absorb and deform vibrations

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

using magnetic or ferromagnetic elements for secure assembly while allowing motion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic attraction: Magnetism

Data Source

PatentEP2861109B1Beverage machine with vibration inhibitor
Publication Date: 2018.04.04 NESTEC SA
  • EP2861109B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3B
  • EP2861109B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6

AI summary

A beverage preparation machine (1) has: a beverage preparation module (2) comprising a module interface (21′, 25, 26) and an auxiliary device (10) comprising a device interface (15, 16). The module and device interfaces being arranged for assembling the module (2) and the device (10) together. At least one of the module and device interfaces (15, 16, 21′, 25, 26) comprises one or more dampening members (21′) so arranged that the module (2) and the device (10) are in direct contact only via the dampening member(s) (21′) when the module (2) and device (10) are assembled together via the interfaces (15, 16, 21′, 25, 26).